Clamp stick

ABSTRACT

A clamp stick for disjointably engaging and bodily manipulating apparatus such as an electric connector includes an elongated hollow tubular element, coupling means engageable with a part of the apparatus to be manipulated and disposed within one end of said tubular element, force applying means slidably mounted on the tubular element intermediate its ends and interconnected with the coupling means for urging said coupling means in one direction thereby to cause the electric apparatus to engage one end of the elongated element, latch means comprising a pawl pivotally mounted on the force applying means and selectively engageable with the teeth of a rack affixed to the tubular element, and force amplifying means in the form of an eccentric structure for the pivotal mounting of said pawl together with a manually operable lever for rotating the eccentric pivotal mounting to impart an increment of movement to the force applying means in a direction tending to amplify the force urging the apparatus into engagement with an end of the elongated element.

Unite States Patent 1191 Landis Oct. 15, 1974 52 user 29/278, 29/267, 269/212,

294/19 R 51 int. c1 1123 19/04 58 Field ofSearch 29/244, 247,263,265,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,296,723 3/1919 Winans 269/212 1,916,866 7/1933 Porter et al.. 29/278 2,316,428 4/1943 Heinrich 81/53.1

3,627,367 12/1971 Levy 29/244 X 3,666,311 5/1972 McMullin 81/53.] X

Primary ExaminerAl Lawrence Smith Assistant Examinerllarold P. Smith, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Walter M. Rodgers {57] ABSTRACT A clamp stick for disjointably engaging and bodily manipulating apparatus such as an electric connector includes an elongated hollow tubular element, coupling means engageable with a part of the apparatus to be manipulated and disposed within one end of said tubular element, force applying means slidably mounted on the tubular element intermediate its ends and interconnected with the coupling means for urging said coupling means in one direction thereby to cause the electric apparatus to engage one end of the elongated element, latch means comprising a pawl pivotally mounted on the force applying means and selectively engageable with the teeth of a rack affixed to the tubular element, and force amplifying means in the form of an eccentric structure for the pivotal mounting of said pawl together with a manually operable lever for rotating the eccentric pivotal mounting to impart an increment of movement to the force applying means in a direction tending to amplify the force urging the apparatus into engagement with an end of the elongated element.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures,

CLAMP STICK Electric apparatus such as elbow type connectors for use in underground circuits must be securely and positively controlled by an operator usually from a distance of several feet from apparatus such as an electric transformer with which the elbow connector must be connected and disconnected. Heretofore a holding force applied through tension means has been used and the gripping force has been manually applied. Such manual application of apparatus engaging force is not adequate to insure a secure and firm connection between the electric apparatus and the clamp stick.

According to the present invention, an elongated tubular element of conventional construction on which coupling means is mounted for engaging electric apparatus is provided with force applying means interconnected with the coupling means and manually slidable in one direction to an intermediate position to impart holding movement to the coupling means and a force amplifying means is arranged to impart an additional increment of movement to the force applying means relative to the elongated element whereby a substantial increase in holding force is imparted through the coupling means to the electric apparatus.

For a better understanding of the invention reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1A is a profile view of the apparatus manipulating end of a clamp stick embodying the invention;

FIG. 1B is a profile view representing the handle end of a clamp stick embodying the invention and whichis a continuation of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1B and which unlike FIG. 1B shows the force applying means constructed according to this invention in its operated or force applying position; and in which FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 2 with certain portions broken away so as to show the eccentric element constructed according to this invention wherebyan additional increment of movement is imparted to the force applying means thereby to establish a secure gripping relationship between one end of the clamp stick and the apparatus to be manipulated thereby.

With reference to the drawings, the numeral 1 generally depicts an electric apparatus such as an elbow connector shown mounted on oneend of a clamp stick generally designated by the numeral 2. The end of clamp stick 2 which engages connector 1 is designated by the numeral 3.

In order to form a disjointable connection between connector 1 and clamp stick 2, a clamping ring 4 is integrally formed with connector 1 and protrudes outwardly from base structure 5 which also constitutes an integral part of connector 1. Base structure 5 is dis posed within a transverse slot 6 formed in manipulating end of clamp stick 2 and a book 7 having a base 8 secured to a tension element 9 is disposed within the ho]- low elongated tubular element 10 and is inserted within the clamping ring 4 of connector 1.

For the purpose of applying tension force to elongated tension element 9 and thereby to urge connector 1 into engagement with end 3 of tubular element 10, force applying means in the form of a collar 11 is slidably mounted about elongated tubular element 10 and is interconnected with tension element 9 by means of a screw 12 which is threadedly engaged in an aperture in collar 11 and which extends through a slot formed in tubular element 10. Screw 12 is interconnected with tension element 9 in any suitable manner so that movement toward the right imparted manually to force applying collar 11 imparts a tension force to tension element 9 and causes the collar 11 to occupy an intermediate position and thus urges connector 1 into engagement with end 3 of tubular element 10.

In order to hold collar ill in the position to which it is moved manually as described, a pawl 13 is pivotally mounted by a pivot structure generally designated by the numeral 14 which includes a. pair of upstanding bosses 15 and 16 integrally formed with force applying collar 11 together with'a rack 17 having a plurality of notches or teeth 18 therein which are selectively engageable with the latching element 19 of pawl 13. Engagement between latch 19 and a selected one of the notches 18 is maintained by means; of biasing spring 20 which urges pawl 13 in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 14.

With the parts occupying the positions depicted in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the collar is disposed in an intermediate position and a moderate force is imparted to tension element 9 and to connector 1 whereby the connector is urged into engagement with the end 3 of tubular element 10. Unfortunately a force applied manually as described to force applying means 11 is not adequate to hold the connectorl in a secure and fixed relationship relative to tubular element 10. Thus according to this invention means are provided for amplifying the force by which connector 1 is urged intoengagement with the left hand end 3 of tubular element 10. This force amplifying means comprisesan eccentric construction for thepivot generally indicated at 14 and such as is best indicated in FIG. 3 together with an operating arm 21 which is rigidly affixed to the eccentric pivot 14A. Thus with the parts in the position shown best in FIG. 18, a substantial additional tension force is imparted to tension element 9 by simply rotating operating arm 21 clockwise from the position depicted in FIG. 13 to the position depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3. This movement as is apparent from a comparison of FIGS. 18 and FIG. 2 causes the pivot 14 and the collar 11 to move to the right by the distance designated at X as delineated by the opposed arrows 22 and23, the ends of which designate respectively the extreme center line positions 24 and 25 of thepivot 14. Thus movement of the pivot bythe distance X while maintainingthe latch 19 of pawl 13 securely in engagement with a preselected one of the notches '18 establishes an increment of movement whereby an additional gripping force reacting between the force applying means in the form of collar 11, pawl l3and the associated latch 19 and its associated slot 18 is applied to tension element 10. This additional increment of movement has been found to be quite effective in stabilizing the connector 1 relative to the elongated element 10 so that an operator may effectively manipulate connector 1 out of and'into engagement with an associated apparatus such for example as a terminal of an electric transformer simply by manually grasping and manipulating the handle end 26 of the clamp stick 2.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

l. A clamp stick for disjointably engaging and bodily manipulating movable apparatus, said clamp stick comprising an elongated tubular element, coupling means mounted on said tubular element and movable to a holding position for maintaining one end of said tubular element in contact with a part of an apparatus to be manipulated by the clamp stick, force applying means interconnected with saidcoupling means and movable on said tubular element in one direction to an intermediate position to impart apparatus holding movement to said coupling means, said force applying means comprising a slotted collar slidably mounted on said tubular element, a tension element disposed inside said tubular element and interconnecting said collar and said coupling means, latch means including a pawl for securing said force applying means in position relative to said tubular element against movement in the opposite direction, said pawl extending through the slot in said collar to engage selectively the teeth of a rack affixed to said tubular element, an eccentric pivot shaft interconnecting said pawl and said collar, and force amplifying rotatable eccentric means which reacts between said force applying means and said pawl so as to impart relative incremental movement to said force applying meansand said tubular element in said one direction to move said force applying means from said intermediate position to a clamping position thereby to establish a secure and stable coupled relationship between the apparatus and the clamp stick.

2. A clamp stick according to claim 1 wherein an operating lever is affixed to said eccentric pivot shaft and movable between extended and retracted positions to with said rack.

I UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,9 9 Dated October 15, 197

Inventor(s) Alfred B. Landis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Insert the following claim:

H. A clamp stick for disjointably engaging and bodily manipulating movable apparatus, said clamp stick comprising an elongated tubular element, coupling means mounted on said tubular element and movable to -a holding position for maintaining one end of said tubular element in contact with a part of an apparatus to be manipulated by the clamp stick, force applying means interconnected with said coupling means and movable on said tubular element in one direction to an intermediate position to impart apparatus holding movement to said coupling means, said force applying means comprising a slotted collar slidably mounted on said tubular element, a tension element disposed inside said tubular element and having one end connected with said coupling means, a screw interconnecting said collar and the other end of said tension element, and latch means for securing said force applying means in position relative to said tubular element against movement in the opposite direction.

On the title page, after the abstract "3 Claims" should read 4 Claims Signed and sealed this 7th day of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest: I

MCCOY M. ,cls'soN JR. s c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050HO-69) USCOMM-DC scan-Pun A 0.5. GOVIIIIIEIIT PRINTING QIIICI IN! o-an-su 

1. A clamp stick for disjointably engaging and bodily manipulating movable apparatus, said clamp stick comprising an elongated tubular element, coupling means mounted on said tubular element and movable to a holding position for maintaining one end of said tubular element in contact with a part of an apparatus to be manipulated by the clamp stick, force applying means interconnected with said coupling means and movable on said tubular element in one direction to an intermediate position to impart apparatus holding movement to said coupling means, said force applying means comprising a slotted collar slidably mounted on said tubular element, a tension element disposed inside said tubular element and interconnecting said collar and said coupling means, latch means including a pawl for securing said force applying means in position relative to said tubular element against movement in the opposite direction, said pawl extending through the slot in said collar to engage selectively the teeth of a rack affixed to said tubular element, an eccentric pivot shaft interconnecting said pawl and said collar, and force amplifying rotatable eccentric means which reacts between said force applying means and said pawl so as to impart relative incremental movement to said force applying means and said tubular element in said one direction to move said force applying means from said intermediate position to a clamping position thereby to establish a secure and stable coupled relationship between the apparatus and the clamp stick.
 2. A clamp stick according to claim 1 wherein an operating lever is affixed to said eccentric pivot shaft and movable between extended and retracted positions to increase and decrease the tension applied to said tension element.
 3. A clamp stick according to claim 1 wherein biasing means is arranged to urge said pawl into engagement with said rack. 